Apple tops September consistency ratings

Apple.com performed the most consistently for consumers using the Internet Explorer browser among large retailers tested in September, says Compuware. Last month, the retailer had the most consistent Internet Explorer site loading time with a variation of only 0.57 seconds. Apple.com also had the best Firefox consistency score at 0. 60 seconds. The lower the variation, the more consistently the site loads.

HPShopping.com (0.92 seconds) placed second in Internet Explorer tests. Walmart.com (0.96) came in third, LLBean.com finished in fourth (1.00) and Overstock.com (1.15) came in fifth.

In Firefox testing, Costco.com came in second place behind Apple with a deviation of 0.69 seconds. OfficeMax.com trailed in third place (0.97), Overstock.com finished fourth (1.10) and was followed by LLBean.com (1.20).

The average Internet Explorer consistency score among the 21 retailers measured in September was 1.79 seconds. The same group of retailers produced an average Firefox score of 1.93 seconds.

The consistency ratings take into account differences in the speed of web page delivery across multiple visits.